The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL draft.
The last time the Green Bay Packers owned the 23rd overall pick they selected Bryan Bulaga during the 2010 NFL Draft. Fast forward 15 years and the Packers own the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could use it on an offensive tackle.
A potential target on April 24 is Kelvin Banks Jr. The Texas offensive tackle checks in at No. 80 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A former five-star recruit and Texas native, Banks finished his career as a Longhorn with 42 career starts at left tackle.
“Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers gets a lot of credit for helping bring Texas “back,” but Kelvin Banks may have been the catalyst for the Longhorns’ two years of playoff-caliber football,” Joey Hickey, a contributing writer for Athlon Sports, said. “When Banks arrived at Texas, the program could not consistently field a high-level offensive line. After helping the team rebuild in the trenches, Banks could become the first Texas offensive lineman drafted in the first round of the NFL draft since 2002.”
Banks may be one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the 2025 draft class. He’s got the easy athleticism to climb to the second level and shows good range as a run blocker. Banks has strong hands to control the defender at the point of contact.
“Kelvin is a powerful blocker,” Hickey said. “When you get him moving forward as a pulling blocker his strength allows him to uncoil with significant force. He is adept enough at anticipating where the defender will be not to miss his blocks.”
Banks is ideally built and has agile feet. He has a quick setup in pass protection and is smooth in his lateral slide. The 42-game starter processes things quickly and has an answer for everything that rushers attempt to deploy. According to Pro Football Focus, Banks gave up one sack and 10 pressures.
“Banks has great footwork and quick feet,” Hickey said. “His alertness immediately after the snap prevents edges from beating him around the corner. If an edge gets a step ahead of him, he is capable of catching up and limiting damage as well.”
Fit with the Packers
A year ago, the Packers selected Jordan Morgan in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. A starting left tackle in college, Morgan played exclusively at guard during his rookie season for the Packers and that may be his natural position in the NFL.
If the Packers believe Morgan’s best fit is at guard, they’ll likely be in the market for an offensive tackle in the upcoming draft. Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker are both entering contract years, as is staring right guard Sean Rhyan.
Will the Packers be able to re-sign all three to keep the offensive line intact? It’s a safe bet that Gutekunst will put a priority on re-signing Tom and he may wait to see how the season plays out before handing Walker and Rhyan second deals.
With all that uncertainty surrounding the future of both starting tackle positions, it’s not out of the question that the Packers draft an offensive tackle in the first round of the upcoming draft.
Banks checks all the boxes. He’ll turn 21 years old in March. He’s a gifted athlete and well-put-together.
If he’s on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 23rd overall pick, his talent may be too good to pass up, even if it means they have to wait a year before he becomes the franchise left tackle.
“In one of Kelvin’s last visits to Texas, he watched Kansas beat Texas 57-56 in overtime,” Hickey said. “What could have been a nail in the coffin for most recruitments, didn’t deter Kelvin from coming to Austin to bring Texas back. He’s as high character a player as you’ll find. He’s not afraid of a challenge. He’s everything I’d want in a franchise left tackle.”
Some NFL teams are going to view Banks as a guard. If the Packers take him in the first round, they likely view him as a future franchise left tackle.
There is no denying that Walker, a former seventh-round pick has exceeded expectations. He’s been a rock-solid blindside protector for Jordan Love.
The question becomes, can the Packers afford to pay Tom, Walker and Rhyan? Also, throw in the potential new contracts for Romeo Doubs and Christain Watson and things could start to add up quickly.
The Packers like to get out in front of potential issues and they could look to add an offensive tackle early in the upcoming draft with an eye on that played potentially replacing Walker. If Banks is on the board, he could be Green Bay’s starting left tackle when the 2026 season kicks off on Thursday Night Football as the Packers begin their quest for a repeat.
